The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-10-19
BESET BY BURGLARS.

BESET BY BURGLARS.
In the fall Of 1856 I was employed as a
clerk in general store at q cross roads
In Southern Indiana. The store, a
church, and blacksmith shop, with two
residences, made up the buildings, and
the families of the merchant and the
blacksmith were the only residents. The
country about was thickly settled up,
however, and trade was always good.
Before the merchant engaged me he an
nouuced that would have to sleep in
the store O nights and that unless had
pluck enough to defend the place
against the marauderS he did not want
me at any price. He showed me shot
gun, a revolver, and q spring gun, which
were used, or on hand to be used, to de-
:end the place, and the windows were
aoor by double locks. The close of the
var had drifted bad population into
indiana. The highways were full Of
ramps, and there were hundreds Of men
sho had determined to make living By
ONE other means than labor. Several
ttempts had been made to rob the store,
nd II had come to pass that 40 clerk
'anted to sleep there alone.
The merchant seemed satisfied with
1e answer I gave b m. and on certain
Ionday morning I went to work. That
anne night a store about four miles away
,as broken into and robbed and the
lerk seriousl. wounded Two nights
.ter three horses were stolen in our
eighborhood. At the end of the week
farmer who was on his way home from
ur store was robbed on the highway.
{ had not been a light sleeper from
.abit, these occurrences would have
ended to prevent too lengthy dreams as
lay in my little bedroom at the front of
he second story. The revolver was
lways placed under my pillow and the
hotgun stood within reach The spring
gun was set about midway of the lower
ioor. Itwas adoublc- -bureled shotgun.
ZACH barrel containing big charge of
ouckshot, and the man who kicked the
string and discharged the weapon would
never know what hurt him
It did not seem possible that any one
could break into the store without arous-
Ing me. There was no door to my room,
and after the people in my neighborhood
had goLe tc bed ! could hear the slight
est noise in the store. had looked the
place over for a weak spot, and had failed
to find it, but my own confidence came
near proving my destruction l should
have told you. in describing the store.
that just over the spot where we set the
spring gun was an opening through
which We hoisted and lowered such goods
as were stored for a time on the second
floor. When not in use this opening was
covered by a trap door. Toward even
ing, on the tenth day of my clerkship, 1
hoisted up lot of pals and tubs, and
had just finished when trade became so
brisk that was called to wait upon Gus
toners. Later on saw that I had left
the trap door open, and said to myself
that would let it go until went to bed.
The store had the only burglar proof safe
for miles around, and it was customary
for the farmer who had a hundred dollars
or 50 to leave It with Us. He received an
envelope in which to enclose 1t, and he
could take out and put in as he liked.
On this evening four or five farmers came
In to deposit, and, as afterward figured
up, we had about 81, 500 in the safe.
There were TWO strange faces in the
crowd that evening. One belonged to a
roughly dressed, cvil-eyed man, who an
nounced himself as drover, and the
other rs a professional tramp. I gave the
.stter piece of tobacco and some crack
ers and cheese and he soon went away,
and we were also so busy up to 8 O'Clock
that did not give the drOver much at
Sention. When We came to shut up the
store he had gone from my mind alto
gether. We counted up the cash, made
some charges in the day book, and it
was about 10 o'clock when the merchant
left. I was tired out and l took q can
die and made the circuit of the store, set
the spring gun. and went TO bed.
had to pass within six feet of the trap
door as | went to my room, but did not
see it. 1t Was rather chilly night in Oc-
tober. and we had nc fires yet, and as I
GOT under the blankets the warmth was
20 grateful that soon fell asleep. 1t was
the first night l had gone to bed without
thinking of robbers and wondering how
I should act in case they came in. did
not know when l fell asleep. Suddenly |
found myself half upright in bed. and
there was an echo in the store as if the
- of something, had aroused me. 1t
Is one o'clock and I had been asleep al
st three hours. Leaning on my elbow.
S3Fained nv ears 10 catch the slightest
>ymd and after minute heard a move
ment down stairs. While | could not
yy what it was. sort of instinct told
me that it was made by some human be-
ing.